Footwear having motorized adjustment system and removable midsole

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/866,989, filed Jul. 18, 2022, which application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/113,069, filed Aug. 27, 2018, issued Jul. 19, 2022 as U.S. Pat. No. 11,388,957, which application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/253,042, filed Apr. 15, 2014, issued on Oct. 9, 2018 as U.S. Pat. No. 10,092,065, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The present embodiments relate generally to articles of footwear and including motorized adjustment systems.

Articles of footwear generally include two primary elements: an upper and a sole structure. The upper is often formed from a plurality of material elements (e.g., textiles, polymer sheet layers, foam layers, leather, synthetic leather) that are stitched or adhesively bonded together to form a void on the interior of the footwear for comfortably and securely receiving a foot. More particularly, the upper forms a structure that extends over instep and toe areas of the foot, along medial and lateral sides of the foot, and around a heel area of the foot. The upper may also incorporate a lacing system to adjust the fit of the footwear, as well as permitting entry and removal of the foot from the void within the upper.

In some cases, the lacing system may include a motorized tensioning system. Components of a motorized tensioning system may include, for example, a motorized tightening device, a control unit, and a battery. Each of these components may be incorporated into an article of footwear in various places. In some cases, one or more of these components may be concealed, for example within the sole structure. In some cases, however, space may be limited in the sole structure. Further, it may be desirable to replace one or more of these components during the life of the footwear.

In some cases, relatively inelastic materials may be utilized to provide support, stability, responsiveness, durability, and other performance characteristics. In addition, elastic materials may be utilized in the upper to provide fit and comfort. Further, by using elastic materials, the upper may omit an opening in the lacing region, relying instead on the elasticity of the upper to allow the wearer to insert their foot into the footwear. Using elastic materials in such a way may enable the upper to be relatively streamlined, in some cases sock-like. In order to further provide the upper with a streamlined configuration, it may be desirable to provide a lacing system that adjusts the fit of the footwear, while maintaining a low profile.

In some embodiments, the disclosed footwear may be configured with the control unit and power source concealed in the sole structure and the tightening device mounted on an external portion of the upper. Further, the control unit and/or the power source may be configured to be mounted within a removable portion of the sole structure, such a midsole. Accordingly, the control unit and/or the power source may be removable and replaceable.

In some embodiments, the disclosed footwear may utilize a motorized tensioning system configured to draw portions of the upper toward one another to adjust the fit of the footwear. The upper may be formed of both elastic and relatively inelastic materials. The tensioning system may include a tensile member (serving as the lace) threaded through lace receiving members fixed to relatively inelastic portions of the upper. In some embodiments, streamlining of the upper may be further provided by fusing the elastic material and the relatively inelastic material together to form a continuous upper.

In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an article of footwear. The article of footwear may include an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer and a sole structure fixedly attached to the upper, the sole structure including a ground-contacting outer member and a removable midsole. The footwear may further include a motorized tensioning system including a power source, a control unit, a tensile member, and a motorized tightening device, the motorized tightening device being attached to an outer surface of the upper, and the tightening device being configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear. In addition, the power source and the control unit of the tensioning system may be configured to be removably disposed in the removable midsole.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an article of footwear, including an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer and a sole structure fixedly attached to the upper. The footwear may include a motorized tensioning system including a tensile member and a motorized tightening device, the motorized tightening device being configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear. In addition, the footwear may include a tightening device housing in which the tightening device is disposed, the tightening device housing being fixedly attached to the upper of the article of footwear and the tightening device being removably attached to the upper.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of making an article of footwear. The method may include forming an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer and fixedly attaching a sole structure to the upper. In addition, the method may include threading a tensile member through a plurality of lace receiving members. Also, the method may include removably attaching a tightening device to an outer surface of the upper, the tightening device being configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear. Further, the method may include removably disposing a power source in a removable midsole, the power source being configured to power the tightening device and removably inserting the removable midsole through an opening configured to receive a foot of a wearer.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an article of footwear, including an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer, the upper including one or more elastic portions and one or more substantially inelastic portions. The footwear may further include a plurality of lace receiving members fixedly attached to an outer surface of the upper on the inelastic portions of the upper. Also, the footwear may include a sole structure fixedly attached to the upper. In addition, the footwear may include a motorized tensioning system including a motorized tightening device and a tensile member extending through the plurality of lace receiving members, the tightening device being configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear by drawing two or more of the plurality of lace receiving members closer to one another.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an article of footwear, including a sole structure and an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer and fixedly attached to the sole structure, the upper including a first substantially inelastic portion, a second substantially inelastic portion, and an elastic portion extending between the first substantially inelastic portion and the second substantially inelastic portion, the elastic portion being fused to the first substantially inelastic portion and the second substantially inelastic portion. The footwear may also include a first lace receiving member fixedly attached to the first substantially inelastic portion. Also, the footwear may include a second lace receiving member fixedly attached to the second substantially inelastic portion. In addition, the footwear may include a motorized tensioning system including a motorized tightening device and a tensile member extending through the first lace receiving member and the second lace receiving member, the tightening device being configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear by drawing the first substantially inelastic portion of the upper toward the second substantially inelastic portion of the upper.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of adjusting an article of footwear. The method may include activating a motorized tightening device to apply tension in a tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear by drawing a first substantially inelastic portion of the upper toward a second substantially inelastic portion of the upper, thereby allowing an elastic portion of the upper fused to, and extending between, the first substantially inelastic portion and the second substantially inelastic portion to return from a first stretched condition to second, less stretched condition.

Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the embodiments will be, or will become, apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description and this summary, be within the scope of the embodiments, and be protected by the following claims.

To assist and clarify the subsequent description of various embodiments, various terms are defined herein. Unless otherwise indicated, the following definitions apply throughout this specification (including the claims). For consistency and convenience, directional adjectives are employed throughout this detailed description corresponding to the illustrated embodiments.

The term “longitudinal,” as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims, refers to a direction extending a length of a component. For example, a longitudinal direction of an article of footwear extends from a forefoot region to a heel region of the article of footwear. The term “forward” is used to refer to the general direction in which the toes of a foot point, and the term “rearward” is used to refer to the opposite direction, i.e., the direction in which the heel of the foot is facing.

The term “lateral direction,” as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims, refers to a side-to-side direction extending a width of a component. In other words, the lateral direction may extend between a medial side and a lateral side of an article of footwear, with the lateral side of the article of footwear being the surface that faces away from the other foot, and the medial side being the surface that faces toward the other foot.

The term “side,” as used in this specification and in the claims, refers to any portion of a component facing generally in a lateral, medial, forward, or rearward direction, as opposed to an upward or downward direction.

The term “vertical,” as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims, refers to a direction generally perpendicular to both the lateral and longitudinal directions. For example, in cases where a sole is planted flat on a ground surface, the vertical direction may extend from the ground surface upward. It will be understood that each of these directional adjectives may be applied to individual components of a sole. The term “upward” refers to the vertical direction heading away from a ground surface, while the term “downward” refers to the vertical direction heading towards the ground surface. Similarly, the terms “top,” “upper,” and other similar terms refer to the portion of an object substantially furthest from the ground in a vertical direction, and the terms “bottom,” “lower,” and other similar terms refer to the portion of an object substantially closest to the ground in a vertical direction.

The “interior” of a shoe refers to space that is occupied by a wearer's foot when the shoe is worn. The “inner side” of a panel or other shoe element refers to the face of that panel or element that is (or will be) oriented toward the shoe interior in a completed shoe. The “outer side” or “exterior” of an element refers to the face of that element that is (or will be) oriented away from the shoe interior in the completed shoe. In some cases, the inner side of an element may have other elements between that inner side and the interior in the completed shoe. Similarly, an outer side of an element may have other elements between that outer side and the space external to the completed shoe. Further, the terms “inward” and “inwardly” shall refer to the direction toward the interior of the shoe, and the terms “outward” and “outwardly” shall refer to the direction toward the exterior of the shoe.

For purposes of this disclosure, the foregoing directional terms, when used in reference to an article of footwear, shall refer to the article of footwear when sitting in an upright position, with the sole facing groundward, that is, as it would be positioned when worn by a wearer standing on a substantially level surface.

In addition, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “fixedly attached” shall refer to two components joined in a manner such that the components may not be readily separated (for example, without destroying one or both of the components). Exemplary modalities of fixed attachment may include joining with permanent adhesive, rivets, stitches, nails, staples, welding or other thermal bonding, or other joining techniques. In addition, two components may be “fixedly attached” by virtue of being integrally formed, for example, in a molding process.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “removably attached” shall refer to the joining of two components in a manner such that the two components are secured together, but may be readily detached from one another. Examples of removable attachment mechanisms may include hook and loop fasteners, friction fit connections, interference fit connections, threaded connectors, cam-locking connectors, and other such readily detachable connectors. Similarly, “removably disposed” shall refer to the assembly of two components in a non-permanent fashion.

An article of footwear may include a motorized tensioning system configured to adjust the fit of the footwear. The motorized tensioning system enables relatively rapid tightening of the footwear. In addition, in some embodiments the tightening system may provide incremental tightening. Such incremental tightening may enable the user to achieve a predictable tightness for each wearing. In some embodiments, sensors may be included to monitor tightness. In such embodiments, the user may also achieve a predictable tightness.

In some cases, using a motorized tightening device may remove dexterity issues that may occur with other tensioning technologies (pulling straps, Velcro, and other such manual closure systems). Such a design could improve the use of footwear for physically impaired or injured individuals who may otherwise have a hard time putting on and adjusting their footwear. Using the designs proposed here, footwear could be tightened via a push button or remote interface.

In some embodiments, the tensioning system may be remotely controlled, for example by a bracelet or hand-held device, such as a mobile phone. In such embodiments, adjustments may be made without the wearer having to stop the activity in which they are participating. For example, a distance runner may adjust the tightness of their footwear without interrupting their workout or competitive event to bend over and adjust their footwear manually or by pressing buttons on the footwear to activate the motorized tensioning system.

In addition, the tensioning system may also be configured to make automatic adjustments. For example, using tightness sensors, the system may be configured to maintain tightness during wear by adjusting tightness according to changes in the fit. For example, as feet swell during wear, the tensioning system may release tension on the tensile member, in order to maintain the initially selected tightness.

Further, the tensioning system may be configured to adjust the tightness during use to improve performance. For example, as a wearer places loads on the footwear during an athletic activity, the system may tighten or loosen the tensile members to achieve desired performance characteristics. For example, as a runner proceeds around a curve, the tensioning system may tighten the footwear in order to provide additional stability and maintain the foot in a centralized position within the footwear. As another example, when a runner is running downhill, the tightening system may loosen the footwear to limit additional forces exerted on the foot as the foot tends to slide toward the front of the footwear during the downhill run. Numerous other automated adjustments may be utilized for performance. Such automated adjustments may vary for each activity. In addition, the type and amount of such adjustments may be preselected by the user. For instance, using the examples above, the user may select whether to tighten or loosen the footwear while proceeding around a curve. In addition, the user may select whether to utilize an automated adjustment at all during certain conditions. For example, the user may choose to implement the adjustment while proceeding around curves, but may opt not to utilize an adjustment when running downhill.

is a schematic illustration of a side view of an article of footwearincluding a motorized tensioning system. Footwearmay be any of a variety of footwear types, including athletic footwear, such as running shoes, basketball shoes, soccer shoes, cross-training shoes, baseball shoes, football shoes, and golf shoes, for example. In other embodiments, footwearmay be another type of footwear including, but not limited to, hiking boots, casual footwear, such as dress shoes, as well as any other kinds of footwear. Accordingly, the disclosed concepts may be applicable to a wide variety of footwear types.

As shown in, footwearmay include an upperand a sole structuresecured to upper. Sole structuremay be fixedly attached to upper(for example, with adhesive, stitching, welding, or other suitable techniques) and may have a configuration that extends between upperand the ground. Sole structuremay include provisions for attenuating ground reaction forces (that is, cushioning and stabilizing the foot during vertical and horizontal loading). In addition, sole structuremay be configured to provide traction, impart stability, and control or limit various foot motions, such as pronation, supination, or other motions.

The configuration of sole structuremay vary significantly according to one or more types of ground surfaces on which sole structuremay be used. For example, the disclosed concepts may be applicable to footwear configured for use on any of a variety of surfaces, including indoor surfaces or outdoor surfaces. The configuration of sole structuremay vary based on the properties and conditions of the surfaces on which footwearis anticipated to be used. For example, sole structuremay vary depending on whether the surface is harder or softer. In addition, sole structuremay be tailored for use in wet or dry conditions.

Uppermay include one or more material elements (for example, meshes, textiles, foam, leather, and synthetic leather), which may be joined to define an interior voidconfigured to receive a foot of a wearer. Uppermay define a throat openingthrough which a foot of a wearer may be received into void.

As shown infor reference purposes, footwearmay be divided into three general regions, including a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region. Forefoot regiongenerally includes portions of footwearcorresponding with the toes and the joints connecting the metatarsals with the phalanges. Midfoot regiongenerally includes portions of footwearcorresponding with an arch area of the foot. Heel regiongenerally corresponds with rear portions of the foot, including the calcaneus bone. Forefoot region, midfoot region, and heel regionare not intended to demarcate precise areas of footwear. Rather, forefoot region, midfoot region, and heel regionare intended to represent general relative areas of footwearto aid in the following discussion.

The material elements of uppermay be selected and arranged to selectively impart properties such as light weight, durability, stability, support, air-permeability, wear-resistance, flexibility, fit, and comfort. In some embodiments, uppermay include both elastic portions and substantially inelastic portions. Exemplary elastic materials suitable for use in the disclosed embodiments may include latex, Spandex or elastane (which is often sold under the trademark LYCRA®), elastic mesh materials, and/or any other suitable elastic materials.

The elastic material used in the upper may provide improved fit and comfort by providing the upper with flexibility and stretch to enable the upper to conform to the foot of the wearer. Incorporation of the elastic material enables a close-fitting article of footwear to remain comfortable. In some athletic activities, such as soccer, a particularly close-fitting upper is desirable for reasons of performance. For example, while some athletic shoes are desired to fit with a small amount of space (for example ⅜ to ½ inch) between the wearer's toes and the inside front of the cavity within the upper, soccer shoes are desired to fit with no space or virtually no space between the toes and the inside front of the upper. Any extra length of a soccer shoe will tend to catch on the ground when attempting to kick a soccer ball. In addition, a soccer shoe is desired to fit closely around the top and sides of the shoe, to prevent the foot from sliding around inside the shoe, and thereby provide a predictable outer surface which will contact the ball. Further, a relatively thin upper material is also desirable for a soccer shoe in order to provide feel of the ball as well as reduced weight. Close fitting footwear is also desirable for other athletic activities. Close fit, generally, may provide increased stability and responsiveness. Thus, in order to provide a close-fitting, thin upper, that is comfortable and high performing, an elastic material may be used in the upper.

In some embodiments, the upper may include one or more reinforcing structures, which may provide strength, stability, durability, and other performance benefits. For example, in some embodiments, the upper may include substantially inelastic reinforcing material selectively located adjacent portions of the elastic material. Exemplary inelastic materials that may be used with the disclosed embodiments may include, for example, Lorica, K-lite, textiles, thermoplastic, leather, synthetic leather, vinyl, and/or any other suitable inelastic material. The inelastic (or substantially inelastic) material may have any suitable level of elasticity, which may be relatively low. It will be understood that the term “elastic material,” as used in this specification and claims, shall refer to material that is more elastic than the substantially inelastic material. To illustrate an exemplary comparison between elastic and substantially inelastic materials suitable for use in the disclosed embodiments, an exemplary footwear upper according to the disclosed embodiments may include an elastic material such as LYCRA® and a relatively inelastic material (as compared to LYCRA®) such as leather or synthetic leather.

In some embodiments, the substantially inelastic material may be layered with, but not attached to, the elastic material. In other embodiments, the reinforcing material may be attached, at least partially, to other components of the footwear. In some embodiments, the substantially inelastic material may be attached to the elastic material, for example, by stitching, adhesive, bonding, welding/fusing, or any other suitable attachment method. In some embodiments, the substantially inelastic material may be attached in only select areas to the elastic material. For example, a strip of substantially inelastic material may be attached to the elastic material only at the ends of the strip, leaving the middle portion of the strip overlapping but disconnected from the elastic material. This may provide the upper with greater flexibility to conform to the shape of the foot, while maintaining the strength benefits of the substantially inelastic material. In some embodiments, the elastic material may extend between the substantially inelastic material portions, with minimal overlapping. This may minimize weight.

The substantially inelastic material may be selectively located in any suitable portion of the upper to provide reinforcement, stability, and durability as desired. In addition to the placement of the substantially inelastic material, the amount of substantially inelastic material may be selected according to predetermined performance criteria. For example, more inelastic material may be utilized to provide more strength and support, while less inelastic material may be utilized to provide flexibility, stretchability, and reduced weight.

In some embodiments, the substantially inelastic material may be attached to the elastic material by fusing or welding. As utilized herein, the terms “fusing” and “welding” (and variants thereof) are defined as a securing technique between two elements that involves a softening or melting of the material of at least one of the elements such that the materials of the elements are secured to each other when cooled. Similarly, the term “weld” or variants thereof is defined as the bond, link, or structure that joins two elements through a process that involves a softening or melting of material within at least one of the elements such that the elements are secured to each other when cooled. In some embodiments, welding may involve the melting or softening of two components such that the materials from each component intermingle with each other, that is, the materials may diffuse across a boundary layer (or “heat affected zone”) between the materials, and are secured together when cooled. In some embodiments, welding may involve the melting or softening of a material in a first component such that the material extends into or infiltrates the structure of a second component, for example, infiltrating crevices or cavities in the second component or extending around or bonding with filaments or fibers in the second component to secure the components together when cooled. Thus, welding of two components together may occur when material from one or both of the components melts or softens. Accordingly, a weldable material, such as a polymer material, may be provided in one or both of the components. Additionally, welding does not generally involve the use of stitching or adhesives, but involves directly bonding components to each other with heat. In some situations, however, stitching or adhesives may be utilized to supplement the weld or the joining of the components through welding. Components that have been welded together will be understood to be “fused” together.

A variety of heating techniques may be utilized to weld components to each other. In some embodiments, suitable heating techniques may include conduction heating, radiant heating, high frequency heating, laser heating, or combinations of such techniques. In some embodiments, the welding method used to join portions of the upper may include a high frequency welding method, such as ultrasonic welding or radio frequency (RF) welding.

In embodiments where a high frequency welding method is used to form welds in the upper, the materials of the upper may be any materials suitable for such a method. For example, materials suitable for high frequency welding may include thermoplastic material or natural material coated with a thermoplastic material. Examples of material suitable for high frequency welding methods include an acrylic, a nylon, a polyester, a polylactic acid, a polyethylene, a polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a urethane, a natural fiber that is coated with one or more thermoplastic materials, and combinations of such materials. In some embodiments, a natural fiber, such as cotton or wool, may be coated with a thermoplastic material, such as an ethyl vinyl acetate or thermoplastic polyurethane.

Use of welding can provide various advantages over use of adhesives or stitching. For example, use of welding may produce a lighter weight shoe due to the absence of stitching and adhesives. By eliminating stitching and adhesives, the mass that would otherwise be imparted by stitching and adhesives may be utilized for other structural elements that enhance the performance properties of the article of footwear, such as cushioning, durability, stability, and aesthetic qualities. Another advantage relates to manufacturing efficiency and expense. Stitching and application of adhesives can be relatively time-consuming processes. By welding components, manufacturing time may be reduced. Further, costs may be reduced by eliminating the expense of adhesives or stitching materials. In addition, since adhesives and stitching can increase the rigidity of upper materials, welding (that is, joining materials without using adhesives or stitching) can preserve the flexibility of the upper of the article of footwear. Flexibility of the upper can enable the upper to conform to the foot of a wearer, thus providing improved fit. By conforming to the foot of the wearer, a flexible upper may also provide improved comfort.

In some embodiments, the elastic portions may be an elastic mesh. In portions of the upper, the elastic mesh may remain unreinforced, permitting directed ventilation through the upper. That is, in unreinforced portions, the elastic mesh may have an outwardly exposed outer surface and an inwardly exposed inner surface. Accordingly, in such embodiments, the openings in the mesh of the unreinforced elastic mesh may permit ventilation through the upper. In addition to ventilation, the openings in the elastic mesh may also provide other advantages, such as weight reduction, flexibility, and other advantages. In some embodiments, in the unreinforced portions of the elastic material, the upper may consist essentially of the elastic material layer, and thus, may not include any additional layers.

Uppermay be formed of a plurality of elastic portionsand a plurality of substantially inelastic portions. As shown in, substantially inelastic portionsmay include a first substantially inelastic portion, a second substantially inelastic portion, a third substantially inelastic portion, a fourth substantially inelastic portion, a fifth substantially inelastic portion, and a sixth substantially inelastic portion. Substantially inelastic portionsmay form a skeletal structure, providing reinforcement to upper. As shown in, substantially inelastic portionsmay form an exoskeleton.

It will be noted that elastic portionsare illustrated, in the accompanying drawings, as a relatively simple grid representation. This grid representation is schematic only, and is provided in this manner for convenience and to avoid obscuring the drawings with excessive detail. Examples of suitable elastic materials are provided above. In some embodiments, the elastic material may be a mesh. However, the grid shown in the drawings is schematic only, and thus, is not necessarily reflective of the actual mesh structure.

In embodiments utilizing a mesh elastic material, the orientation of the mesh grid may vary. Further, in some embodiments, other more complicated grid structures may be utilized for the mesh material. In addition, the size of the grid openings may also vary. The configuration of a suitable elastic mesh material may be selected according to desired performance characteristics, including weight, strength, puncture resistance, ventilation, and other attributes.

As shown in, footwearmay include a plurality of lace receiving members. Lace receiving membersmay be configured to receive a lace or tensile memberfor adjusting the fit of footwear. As shown in, lace receiving membersmay be fixedly attached to substantially inelastic portionsof upper. For example, a first lace receiving membermay be fixedly attached to first substantially inelastic portion. A second lace receiving membermay be fixedly attached to second substantially inelastic portion. A third lace receiving membermay be fixedly attached to third substantially inelastic portion. A fourth lace receiving membermay be fixedly attached to fourth substantially inelastic portion. A fifth lace receiving membermay be fixedly attached to fifth substantially inelastic portion. And a sixth lace receiving membermay be fixedly attached to sixth substantially inelastic portion.

It will be noted that, in some embodiments, the arrangement of substantially inelastic portions and corresponding lace receiving members illustrated inmay be provided on both the medial side and the lateral side of footwear. That is, in some embodiments, tensile membermay extend across the instep region in forefoot regionto the opposite side of footwear, as shown in. Accordingly, tension may be applied to tensile memberfrom both sides of footwear. In some embodiments, the lacing arrangements of tensile memberon the medial and lateral sides of footwearmay be substantial mirror images.

The arrangement of lace receiving membersin this embodiment is only intended to be exemplary and it will be understood that other embodiments are not limited to a particular configuration for lace receiving members. Furthermore, the particular types of lace receiving membersillustrated in the embodiments are also exemplary and other embodiments may incorporate any other kinds of lace receiving members or similar lacing provisions. In some other embodiments, for example, footwearmay include traditional eyelets. Some examples of lace guiding provisions that may be incorporated into the embodiments are disclosed in Cotterman et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 2012/0000091, published Jan. 5, 2012 and entitled “Lace Guide,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Additional examples are disclosed in Goodman et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 2011/0266384, published Nov. 3, 2011 and entitled “Reel Based Lacing System” (the “Reel Based Lacing Application”), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Still additional examples of lace receiving members are disclosed in Kerns et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 2011/0225843, published Sep. 22, 2011 and entitled “Guides For Lacing Systems,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Tensioning systemmay comprise various components and systems for adjusting the size of openingand thereby tightening (or loosening) upperaround a wearer's foot. In some embodiments, tensioning systemmay comprise tensile memberand a motorized tightening deviceconfigured to apply tension in tensile member. (See also,.) In some embodiments, tightening devicemay be attached to an outer surface of footwear. For example, in some embodiments, tightening devicemay be attached to an outer surface of upper. In some embodiments, tightening device may be enclosed within a tightening device housing, as shown in.